Disparities in Treating Hepatitis C

Kohrt Commons; Plyler Hall

Hepatitis C (HEP C) infects roughly 150 million people worldwide with a global prevalence of 3%. Hepatitis C is more prevalent among disenfranchised groups giving rise to the pseudonym the disease of the marginalized. Patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to suffer the negative side effects from hepatitis C virus due to inadequate insurance coverage, racial discrimination, gender inequality, poorer health education, or an inability to afford their medications.The disparities in treatment of HEP C have widen in recent years due to the development of direct-acting antivirals (DAA’s). Treatments with DAA’s can cure over 95% of HEP C infections, however regiments can range anywhere from $50,000 - $90,000. The price of treatment using DAA’s only exacerbates the existing disparities created from socioeconomic status. Unfortunately, individual of low socioeconomic status who are diagnosed with HEP C have limited opportunity for management and treatment of their illness. To lessen the impact HEP C has on individuals from lower socioeconomic back grounds, changes in health care policy must be addressed to prevent further widening of health outcomes among the disenfranchised groups.